.Wednesday, April 08, 2009 ; 11:58 PM -
.His Mercy is New everY mornInG.
Is it because he is a church leader therefore he is "not suppose" to receive the compensation package he has been receiving?Will it be a different story if he is a CEO of a secular company.
Full Reply By New Creation Church To The Straits Times Query On Staff Remuneration
New Creation Church (NCC) is not a public charity organisation. Therefore, we do
not raise donations or funds from the general public. In October 2007, NCC was
reviewed by the Commissioner of Charities (CoC) and we passed the review.
Additionally, we have submitted the online governance evaluation checklist and
complied fully with the requirements of the Code of Governance for charities to
disclose the salary bands of our top three executives in our annual report as well as
to our members at our Annual General Meeting.
NCC has a remuneration committee (RC) chaired by independent Church Council
members who are not staff of NCC. The RC reviews the remuneration terms and
conditions of the church’s senior management and also has the discretion to review
the remuneration package of all levels of staff. In addition, the RC reviews and
approves the annual staff salary adjustment and staff bonus payments.
As the RC believes in attracting and retaining strong, able leaders with the right
values and passion for the church, staff members who perform well are rewarded
and paid competitive salaries. This remuneration approach is in line with the
principle found in the Bible in the Book of First Timothy chapter five verse 17, which in
Greek (the original language that the New Testament was written in) says, “Let the
elders who rule well be counted worthy of double wages, especially those who
labour in word and doctrine.”
In March 2006, our Senior Pastor, Joseph Prince, informed the church that he
approached the Church Council to consider his request to go on a no-pay scheme.
On 16 April 2006, Deacon Matthew Kang, Honorary Secretary and Lead
Independent Council Member of NCC, announced at all four services of the church
that the Church Council unanimously decided to turn down Senior Pastor Prince’s
request after much deliberation.
Deacon Matthew Kang explains, “It is the RC’s policy to recognise and reward key
contributors to the church, and Senior Pastor Prince is the main pillar for our church’s
growth and revenue. Senior Pastor Prince is the keyman responsible for bringing in
about 95% of our church’s income. I must concede that Senior Pastor Prince has
enriched the church and not the other way round. Above all, through Senior Pastor
Prince’s ministry, many people have experienced the grace and love of our Lord
Jesus for themselves, and seen how their lives have been transformed and marriages
restored.”
About more than a month ago, Senior Pastor Prince raised his request to go on a no-
pay scheme with the Council again. The Council has yet to give him a reply.
